Protesters in Harris County rally against Gov. Abbott’s redistricting plan, criticizing it as a political power grab to favor Republicans.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Dozens of protesters gathered across Harris County Saturday to oppose a redistricting plan announced by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is calling lawmakers back to Austin for a special legislative session starting Monday.
Abbott’s move to redraw the state’s congressional maps has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who say the effort is a politically motivated power grab aimed at adding more Republican seats and diminishing Democratic representation.
In Houston’s Northside neighborhood, more than 40 people rallied at Moody Park, holding signs reading “Hands off my district” and chanting slogans like “What do we want? Fair maps! Now!” and “Redistricting is not reform!”
Steven Halvorson, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party’s Congressional District 29, a majority-Latino, working-class area represented by Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, helped organize the event.
“We’re within a 10-year window. We shouldn’t be redistricting right now, so we don’t understand why this is happening,” Halvorson said. “That’s what’s at stake here: health, people, jobs, all of that.”
Halvorson added that his biggest concern is losing representation, emphasizing the need for communities to be represented by people who understand their experiences.
“This redistricting is taking away the voices of people of color, not just African Americans, but Latinos, any person of color will be disenfranchised,” said Nichole Earl, one of the protesters.
Texas completed redistricting just a few years ago, following the 2020 census. Critics say Abbott’s plan to redraw maps again so soon is unnecessary and unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, in Southwest Houston, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher joined a rally in her district, standing alongside State Rep. Gene Wu. Fletcher said the effort to remove five Democratic seats from Texas’ current 13 congressional districts would involve illegal and unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.
“We’re here to say, do NOT mess with Texas!” Fletcher declared.
The special session begins Monday, July 21, with redistricting among the key topics on the agenda.